Arson And Old Lace

Not only is this the goofiest story idea they ever used on Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew, it's one of the goofiest ideas ever used in any TV series. Ever. Yes, I'm serious. This is even worse than Jack Bauer's daughter and the cougar. I swear. Even as a kid I hated seeing this episode pop up in re-runs, because it made no sense.

The first third of the episode informs us that Nancy Drew - famed girl detective - has been missing for six months. Frank & Joe are seen meeting with her dad, getting details of her kidnapping (as if for the first time) and then doing a bit of very rudimentary detective work that leads them pretty close to Nancy's whereabouts on the first try. One of the biggest clues comes from Nancy's own notebook, which apparently hasn't been opened by anyone in the six months since it was found at the scene of her kidnapping.

Anyway, at this point the story shifts gears. Substantially. We meet Nancy for the first time in the episode. Resourceful Nancy Drew - famed girl detective - is being held captive in a penthouse. By a feeble old man. She's been there for six months. With this deluded old man, who has forced her to dress exactly like an ex-lover of his from 40 years previous. He's even done Nancy's hair up in the way his lover wore. And it looks great. Spectacular, in fact. Very considerate of him. And, indeed, of Nancy to sit there and let him do it.

For the final third of the episode, we meet a cute lady arsonist (mentioned earlier in a line of dialogue from a minor character). For no reason that is immediately apparent she sets about burning down the same building where Nancy is being held, just as Frank & Joe arrive at the building to rescue Nancy! This leads to lots of action-adventure stuff as Frank & Joe roam the building, set to rousing music, rescuing various new characters. Frank eventually makes his way to the penthouse and uses an elevator to casually walk into the same room that Nancy Drew - famed girl detective - has been totally unable to escape from, for six months.

Maybe Nancy has the same lethargic attitude to things that the Hardy Boys have. After all, it took them six months to start searching for her, why can't we believe that Nancy just couldn't be bothered taking the elevator to the lobby?

Anyway, when everyone is outside. The cute lady arsonist casually confesses her crime to Joe. Out of the blue. For no reason. Perhaps she was likewise lethargic about carrying on with the whole arsonist thing? It's catching, you know.

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